Ironman Taper Progresses: A Case of Whoa Nellies with a Side of Joyful Weeping

If you’ve ever experienced a taper from endurance training, then you know that it brings with it a rangeof emotions, from irritability to anxiety to excitement to joy. The irritability stage is usually first for me, and on Monday it hit me pretty hard. I spent most of the day trying to keep myself from hurting someone – especially after the women in the aqua aerobics class hit me in the head and hand with the lane rope. GRRR!

But, yesterday’s episode of taper tantrums was quite the switch. I spent most of that day keeping myself from training too hard and weeping too much. So, taper is progressing according to plan, thank you very much.

Yesterday’s schedule featured a steady 1:20 bike and a 30 minute run. I had to forcibly keep myself from letting the horses out of the barn. I felt so freaking awesome, so strong, so ready to race.

As I rode the bike, I kept an eye on both power and heart rate. My heart rate was low, my power was high. As I saw the power I was generating, I thought: Whoa Nelly! Save that for the race. I need that generator for the back half of the IMLP bike course!

Then, it came time for a little easy transition run. Same situation. Low heart rate, fast pace. Whoa Nelly! Save that sh!t for the race, girl!

About this time, the weepiness started. (For those of you new to the blog, I am given to weepiness during heavy training and racing. And, when I weep, it means I’m happy – not sad.)

So, there I was, running along, feeling fabulous, despite it still being 90 degrees and humid, and it hit me: “Hey! I’m doing an Ironman ON SUNDAY! That is !@#$!*& AWESOME!”

I was filled with the overwhelmingly pleasant sensation of good things to come. You know that sensation, right? When your belly and your fingertips tingle? When your heart feels so open to the amazing beauty that is life that it almost hurts? When everything seems possible – if you just work for it?

Yup, that sensation right there.

At that very moment, Garth Brooks’ song “How You Ever Gonna Know” started to play on my MP3 player.

For those of you not familiar with the song, here are some of the lyrics that were particularly poignant for the moment:

Anything in life worth havin’Lord, it has its sacrificeBut the gift that you’re receivingIs worth more than the price[…]How you ever gonna knowIf you could have done itHow you ever gonna knowHow it feels to flyHow you ever gonna knowIf you never dare to try[…]How you ever gonna knowIf you’re the best[…]How you ever gonna knowyour potentialHow you ever gonna know victoryHow you ever gonna knowwhat it’s like when dreams become reality[…]how you ever gonna knowif you never take a chance

So, there I was, my eyes welling with the sensation of joy, of excitement, of peace. I was feeling the tingling start to flow, as I thought: That’s right, Garth! How am I ever gonna know if I don’t go after it? Sing it, brother!

I may have even sung out loud a little bit. At least the looks of surprise from those of the bike path suggest that is what I did. Doesn’t sound like me – singing out loud. So weird.

By the end of this song, I’m smiling wildly, singing terribly, weeping happily, and all the while my pace is increasing along with my heart rate. Whoa, Nelly! Settle down, horsies. Back in the barn you go…